Gate: jieitai kano chi nite, kaku tatakaeri" ゲート 自衛隊 彼の地にて、斯く戦えり

Gate: jieitai kano chi nite, kaku tatakaeri ゲート自衛隊彼の地にて、斯く戦えり ( translatable to Gate: in that land, the self-defense forces fight like this) is taken from the light novels by Takumi Yanai and illustrated by Daisuke Izuka. Which saw in 2011 was followed by a manga transposition and followed by this Anime series.

The plot is very particular and blends fantasy series with modern characters, but with an intent (sometimes not too veiled) of "propaganda" linked to Japan's self-defense forces.

In Ginza, a strange magical portal (a Greco-Roman colonnade) suddenly appears, from which humans and semi-human creatures suddenly emerge and begin to attack and kill people.
After the first battle that leads to the defeat of the invaders, the Japanese decide to cross the Gate (the portal) with the self-defense forces who will find themselves in a very particular fantasy world.
Battles, semi-human fantasy characters (elves, cat women, rabbit women, dragons, etc), eventful adventures, will follow the protagonist Yōji Itami 伊丹耀司 past the gate.

The anime series was produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Takahiko Kyōgoku and given the amount of material available (manga volumes and light novels are substantial) it was divided into 2 seasons: the first half was broadcast in July 2015, while the second was scheduled for January 2016. Personally I found it interesting, it's a series that makes you have a good day, fun and enjoyable. The strokes of the drawings are beautiful, not angular, the natural landscapes and those of the cities (which refer to a Roman imperial period or the early Middle Ages) are beautiful and well defined.

The nature of the anime is intentionally "propagandistic", it looks like a series created to outline the Jieitai 自衛隊 as a necessary force, in defense of the citizen who protects more than fights, and the sentences they often pronounce make it clear.
It will be a coincidence ... let's say :D ... but in the period in which this anime was released the increase in funds for the self-defense forces and a modification of the constitution itself was under discussion (a strong and bitter discussion) in parliament. After the war, Japan "suffered" the constitution from the Americans, and in this it is forbidden to have an army, even if the Jietai is formally given the forces it has.

But beyond the theses that led to the production of this anime, let's enjoy it for what it is, a well-designed, fun anime that you certainly won't mind. Let's wait for the second season and in the meantime watch it and let us know what you think.

 You can find more reviews about Japanese animation on our main page, if you are a fan you can't miss them :)